Electric table



OC- 2, 1934. K. H. HAMILTON ELECTRIC TABLE Filed Nov. 28, 1952 INI/ENTOR.

A TTORNE YS.

`Patented Oct. 2, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC TABLE Kathleen H. Hamilton, San Francisco, Calif. Application November 28, 1932, SerialNo. 644,593

3 Claims. (Cl. 21B- 37) This invention relates to tables and has for its objects special construction in a table whereby it may be converted from a plain table to an open leaf table about twice as large with an electric '5 stove set in its surface, or to a drop leaf table of the original size with the electric stove in its surface. Other features comprise the construetion whereby the combination is safe against ire and yet provides for firm support of the leaves 1o and drawers. Other features will appear in the following specification and accompanying drawing.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a front elevation ci my improved table. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the table. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of Fig. 1 as seen from the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail oi the double acting hinge used on the table leaves, and Fig. 5 is a side view of Fig. 4.

In further detail, the table has a top consist- 29 ing of a. marginal frame 1 as oi' wood, embrac ing a heavy slab o insulating board 2, such as wbestos, slate or other hard compositions, both proof against :dre and insulating against the cleo.x tric current. This top is supported on legs 3 morticed to an apron e, all secured to the under side of the frame 1, and hinged to opposite side edges of the table top or frame 1 are two leaves also preferably made of a frame 5 and inserted panels 6 of hard insulating material.

3o These leaves are each half the size of the table top so as to meet at l when folded upon the top of the table, and the hinges are of the double act ing variety as shown at 8 in Figs. 4 and 5 so that the leaves can be swung clear around to hang vertically as dotted at 5.

I In the center of the table is an electric stove or hot plate 9 of conventional design provided with a supporting flange 10 set flush in the surface of the insulating board 2. This stove extends downwardly throughs. hole in the table top f and is entirely surrounded belowby a sheet metal box 11 which is spaced fro'i'tlie" stove body and secured against the under side of the table top or suspended thereagainst by means of two or more heavy metal straps 12 secured to the under side of the table top by means of screws 13. These 'straps extend beyond the metal box 11 to provide a space at opposite sides ofthe box for leaf supporting slides 14, l5 which are in pairs for each Aleaf tied together at their outer ends at 14', 15' (and nd support both on the straps 12 as well as on'the edge of the openings in apron 4 through which they pass. The slides are prevented from pulling out too far by a pin or other suitable stop at their inner ends as at 16.

In front and back of the table are two very shallow drawers 17 which are each provided with a. small bar 18 secured to the under side and entendng through a metal loop 19 secured to and projecting downward from the bottom of the metal bor, 11 and under the metal box 1l so as to hold the drawers from tipping when pushed in or pulled out. It should be noted that the drawers are not centered in the table but are odset to the right in Fig. 2 so that a space is provided at the left side oi the table, as viewed in the drawing, to accommodate the electric leads and switches.

The current is brought to the table from a exible cord 20 and plugged into a socket 21 in the apron of the table, thence it is led through suitable conduits indicated by the dotted lines 22 through two spring button switches 23, 2e of standard/design as used for closet doors and which consist of switch buttons projecting from the surface of the table, one adjacent opposite edges of the table in a manner so that when either extension leaf 5 is closed it will depress the switch and cut o the current supply to the stove. The circuit also includes two surface sockets 25, 26 for plugging in various electric devices such as percolators, toasters and the like, and in the front apron of the table opposite the incoming plug socket 21 is a manually operated switch 27 for connecting or disconnecting the stove.

From the above description it will be seen that when the leaves are folded the table, if of suitable size, would be a card table with no possibility of the stove being left turned on, and that upon outfolding the leaves the table is'at once converted to an electric table with the stove readsI to operate upon closing the manual switch The setting of the stove in a slab of insulating and fire-proof material and the provision of the deep metal box under the stove makes it absolutely safe against fire, while the special construction makes it possible to provide the shallow drawers on opposite sides of the metal box and open them fully. The special construction of the leaf supporting slides at the sides of the sheet metal box is also a feature, though it is possible to incorporate some of the features of my improvement in other types of tables without ringed leaves, and I therefore claim: v

l. A table, an electric stove set in the face of the table, a leaf arranged and adapted to cover said stove and to provide a horizontal table surface thereover, said leaf hinged to the table by double-acting hinges permitting the leaf to be swung from the plate covering position to a position hanging vertically downwardly at the side of the table, and means for supporting the leaf in horizontal position at one side of the stove forv providing a table surface at the side of the stove if desired, an electric circuit for supplying current Vto said stove, and a switch arranged and adapted to be actuated by movement of the leaf from said horizontal position at one side of the stove to the stove covering position for breaking said circuit.

2. A table provided with a pair of hinged extension leaves, an electric cooking plate countersunk in the upper surface of the table, an electric circuit carried by said table for supplying current to said cooking plate, said leaves arranged and adapted to cooperate for forming an unbroken horizontal table surface covering r said cooking plate when the leaves are closed and providing extended table surfaces on opposite sides of the table when opened, two switches on said circuit mounted on the table, each switch adjacent the hinged portion of a leaf respectively arranged in a manner whereby the movement of either of said leaves from its outwardly extending position toward a position over the cooking plate will operate one of the switches and render said circuit inoperative for supplying current t'the cooking plate.

3. A table, an electric cooking plate countersunk in the upper surface of the table, an electric circuit line carried by the table for supplying' current to said cooking plate, an extension leaf hinged to the table in a manner to be outfolded therefrom to extend the table top, and to fold down over the table and cover the cooking plate Whenclosed, and a spring-closed switch on said electric circuit line provided with a depressible button on the table top positioned adjacent the hinged portion of said leaf arranged in a manner to be contacted and operated by the leaf to break the circuit to the cooking plate upon swinging said-leaf toward closing position and while the leaf is still a considerable distance from closed position. v

KATHLEEN H. HAMILTON. 

